Lock for cartons



May 25 1926.

H. 1 GREVE LOCK FOR CARTONS Filed August 27, 1921 LVVENTOR By/e/w/a//L@fel/e) ff f ATTORA Patented May 25, 1926.

Unire s'rn'rss 15eme Partnr sarei-"1.

HERMAN L. GREVE, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 'TI-IE THOMPSON ;&

NORRIS CO., A vC20RPC)RATON 10F NEW JERSEY. i

LOCK FOR CARTONS.

Application filed August 27, 1921. Serial No. 495,056.

My invention relates to cartons used for holding goods while intransport through the mails or by express, and the object of myinvention is to provide a simple locking means that can be provided at alow cost and can be attached to a carton while the same is in itsknock-down or unfolded condition and delivered to the packer in thiscondition and thereafter when the carton is formed in its box sha-pe thelocking means may be bent if necessary, to conform to the shape of thecarton, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

A furthe-r object is to provide locking means which can not be unlockedafter being locked on the carton without injuring either the lock or thecarton to such a degree as to be at once detected by tlte person whoreceives the goods, when he is required to lsign for the carton as beingreceived in good order, as is now customary.

The carton described and illustrated in this case but not claimed hereinis claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 496,057, filed ofeven date herewith.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton as "it appears ready forshipment with the locking means attached thereto and in locked relation.

Figure 2 'is a perspective view of a carton showing the application ofthe lock in another position thereon. y

Figure 3 is a vperspective view of the ymale portion of a lock embodyingmy invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the male portion ofa lock.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a female portion of the lock.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through the lock showing the parts inlocked relation.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the female member may beformed into shape by bending same on the dotted lines.

A, indicates a carton made of heavy sti paperboard material, folded intoshape from the blank form, and its top closed in the usual manner byfolding the Hap portions A-A over each other in interlocl ing relationas illustrated in Figure l, and well known in this art.

B, indicates the male portion of the lock rlhe top of the clip B,presents a plane surface and is preferably provided with a number ofholes D-D etc. arranged in a line as illustrated, the object `being tocause the metal to bend along this line .and to weaken the metal so thatit can be moreV easily broken along this line when it is de- .sired 4toopen the carton, lthe metal being filed thro-ugh between the holes.

The leaf portion of the lock indicated by E is folded back on itselfalong the lint` F to provide one or more hook or Aoffset portions G-Getc., and forming springs due to the resiliencyfo-f the metal. fn allofthe ures except in Figure 2 the body portion B is shown in its bentposition-forming a right angle with the leaf portion E, to conform tothe ang-le presented by the top and side portion of the carton asillustrated in Figure l, but in Figure 2 the leaf Iis not bent at anangle to the portion B as both portions of the :lock are 4connected to-a common plane surface, as shown.

The female lportion of the lock, indicated by H is also Vpreferably madeof sheet metal and folded at J to presenta "V shape in Across section asshown rand is also provided with the clip members C-C etc. and with tivoclip members CC respectively 'which are formed integral with the outeror exposed portion H" at each end thereof respective-lv and extend atright angles to the exposed surface across the openings L-I, and throughthe wall of the carton and are bent over and clamped on the inner sideof said wall to hold the lock to the carton, thus the clip members Cserve two functions, one to close the said openings I and the other toassist in holding the female portion of the lock to the carton. Theclips C-C etc. all serve to hold the body portions of the lock to thecarton, being passed through the wall and clamped thereto as illustratedin dotted lines in Figure l.

A slot K is formed in the top of the female portion H which extendsalmost the length thereof leaving a closed portion L-L respectively ateach end thereof, and the outer edge M adjacent the slot K is turnedinward to form an abutment on the under side thereof against which theupper ends of the elements GMG etc. abut after the leaf E is passedthrough the slot K as illustrated in Figure 6, to lool; the portionstogether.

The width of the slot K is but slightly greater than twice the thicl;ess of the sheet of metal from which the look is made and therefore theelements G-G etc. are pressed against the adjacent side of the leaf Ewhen the leaf is forced into the slot and their upper ends springoutward when they are passed below abutment and rest thereunder' fromwhich position they can not be removed.

In Figure el is shown a modied form of spring locking elements, the leafE having arrow shaped portions N-N thereon with laterally extendingspring portions O and P respectively which entend through the slot K,the portions O-O resting below the abutment and portions P-P pressingagainst the opposite wall, thereby holding the lock portions firmlytogether.

After the carton is filled the lool: portions are coupled together andcannot thereafter be unlocked.

The locks are made and sold as a separate article of manufacture and maybe used for any purpose for which they are adapted.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new:

l. A loclt made of sheet metal comprising a male and a. female memberhaving attaching means integral with each adapted to firmly secure samein proper position on a receptacle to effect a closure, said femalemember having a slot and an abutment adjacent said slot, said malemember having hook-like elements adapted to pass through said slot andcooperate with said abutment,

said slot being of such width to require.

essais a slot formed in the bend thereof, one edge of said slot being sobent as to form an abutment7 said male portion being adapted toco-operate with said slot and abutment to permanently inter-lock saidportions.

3. A loclr made of resilient sheet metal comprising a male and a femaleportion adapted to interlock in permanent relation, said female portioncomprising a casing having side clips and a slot with an abutment formedadjacent thereto and the other portion having a leaf with a hool:thereon adapted to pass through said slot and .inst said abutment, saidend clips serving as a wall to close the opening' formed at each side ofthe casing.

et. A lock comprising a female member formed of sheet metal bent uponitself having a slot formed in the bend thereof, one edge of said slotbeing so bent as to form an alritment, a male member for inserting insaid slot and eo-operating with said abutment for pern'ianentlyinterlocking said in mbers, and clips forming side closures over the endof the bent portion of the female member adapted to secure the latter ineffective position.

5. A lock comprising a female member formed of sheet metal bent uponitself hai'- ing :i slot formed in the bend thereof, one edge of saidslot being so bent as to form an abutment, a male member to co-operatewith said slot and abutment to permanently interlocl said members, andclips ou each member adapted to firmly secure said members to areceptacle, some of said clips on the female member serving as walls toclose the openings formed at the side thereof.

Signed at Eroolrlyn in the county of Kings and State of New York this28rd day of August A. D. 1921.

HERMAN L. GREVE.

f' ieet of n il bent upon itself and having

